Road Party

I've seen Going the Distance and I was pleasantly surprised. The jokes are fresh and funny. The girls are damn hot. There's plenty of nudity and sex. I say kudos to Canada for making a movie that could compete with the commercial Hollywood machine that pumps out American Pies and Without a Paddles. I'm sick of seeing sad, pretentious Canadian movies about terminally ill pregnant lesbians. Making movies is just as much a business as it is an art. It's nice to see this country try to make a buck. Sex and comedy sells, and this movie has plenty of both. This movie comes from the company that did Last Wedding and Punch, both very classy, artsy films. So now they're trying their hand at something else. I say good for them, and as a Canadian, I will support them with my ten dollars.

It used to be that having National Lampoon in the title meant comedy gold. Two of the greatest comedies of all time, ANIMAL HOUSE and VACATION carried the National Lampoon banner. Throughout the 90s, National Lampoon continued to lend its name to such classics as SENIOR TRIP and LOADED WEAPON 1. For a while, it seemed like the greatness of the National Lampoon name would never die, especially after 2002's VAN WILDER, the closest college comedy to ANIMAL HOUSE since REVENGE OF THE NERDS. Then in 2003, the Lampoon name was scarred with THANKSGIVING FAMILY REUNION, a bad TV movie that premiered on TBS. That same year the Lampoon took another blow with the mediocre NATIONAL LAMPOON PRESENTS DORM DAZE. Now with GOING THE DISTANCE, the downfall of National Lampoon continues.

GOING THE DISTANCE isn't even an American made movie. It's a Canadian ROAD TRIP clone that has nothing to do with the National Lampoon name. The only slightest Lampoon element was the whole guy-trying-to-ruin trip subplot was also done in SENIOR TRIP, but at least there it was funny. Here, it's the weakest part of the movie. It just doesn't work. In fact, 50% of the jokes in GOING THE DISTANCE don't work, which is rather unfortunate since the film had potential. I dug the first few opening scenes and thought that the film could end up being worthy of the National Lampoon name. However, after fifteen minutes had gone by, I realized this was sadly yet another direct-to-video dud. There were a few good laughs and Joanne Kelly was quite cute, but that wasn't enough to save this flick. 4/10

First I would like to point out that it's GOB not Sum 41. Also I thought the cameos from Avril, GOB, the MUCH Music dude, and Swollen Members was pretty cool to see. As the topic states I think this is like a Canadian version of American Pie. Only better. It seemed to go farther than AP was willing to go. The storyline was cheesy and predictable but it's a teen comedy. It's main purpose is to make people laugh. Which I did. Hopes this helps with anyone's decision on whether or not to watch it.

P.S. Not every movie needs to be totally artsy or indie to be watchable.

There are people out there with good ideas that don't have the budget or the equipment needed to make a movie....then crap like this comes along and it makes you want to stab yourself in your own eye with an icepick. I hate Avril Lavigne so her cameo is a negative point in the movie, then George from much music shows up in the movie too which makes me want to jump off a bridge....and then the kicker....anyone for fake punk? Too bad cause Sum 41 is gonna be on your screen being all retarded and stuff too. Terrific, this is why they should stick to playing music videos and not creating utter crap and subjecting people to it.

And Thats All

I was really pleased with this film -- sure, it's teen sex-comedy pap, but at least the actors are respectable, the dialogue believable and the scenery terrific. As the genre goes, it's right up there with the rest, and in some ways even better -- i.e., as much as we wanted it to happen, when did Stifler ever really literally get it in the end? Tyler did (and Shawn Roberts looked really, REALLY great in that role)and they never bowed to cheapening the joke by making it into something that a straight guy would never recover from -- they even went so far as to have him like it! Unlike the American comedies, where the macho guys pull pranks to have a laugh at the expense of their friends, the characters here were supportive of each other, and watched out for each other (very noble, very Canadian). And did I mention that Shawn Roberts is really HOT! This movie is worth seeing (shame it didn't do too well at the box office) -- and when was the last time we got a Canadian road movie that clearly was shot in Canada?! Well done MUCH -- I hope you continue with similar films that put a Canadian twist on American (Pie) movie styles, even if they are low-brow. And to those of you who think Canadians shouldn't be making or watching low-brow -- get over it! There's room out there for us to watch all movie types, and whereas sometimes you want a movie that moves you, other times you just wanna see some hotties put into positions the American movie-makers won't touch (thank you "Cougars" scene!).